MYANMAR

08 SEPTEMBER 2017

The Socialist International has witnessed with growing concern the severe deterioration of the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Renewed violence has led to multiple deaths and the displacement of many thousands of members of the Rohingya minority in that country, deepening the humanitarian crisis. Ethnic Rohingya refugees who have successfully fled to Bangladesh have reported massacres in their villages and the burning of hundreds of homes by the Burmese military, in an effort to remove the civilian Rohingya population from this area by forcible means. The government and authorities of Myanmar have a moral and legal responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all those living in the country, regardless of ethnicity and religion, and the SI calls on the government to now cooperate with the United Nations...

Spain

BURKINA FASO

venezuelA

18 AUGUST 2017

The Socialist International strongly condemns the decision of the Venezuelan regime to usurp the powers of the National Assembly, the seat of the legislative power in that country. This unconstitutional and illegitimate decision does not only ignore the will of the Venezuelan people expressed in the ballot box in elections that took place at the end of 2015, in which its members were elected, but places, in an unequivocal and irrefutable way, the people of Venezuela under an authoritarian and dictatorial government. Under these circumstances, the international community, faced with the risk of having to witness an untenable internal situation of continuing violations of the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of the Venezuelan people...

venezuelA

31 July 2017

The Socialist International has followed with grave concern the recent events in Venezuela, where yesterday the government of President Nicolás Maduro held a vote to elect members of a constituent assembly via a process that ran contrary to Venezuela’s current Constitution. This election in turn did not meet the minimum requirements and guarantees to ensure that the vote was fair and its results credible. It was also an election marked by repression and violence that cost the lives of more than 10 Venezuelans; these adding to the 120 fatalities that have already resulted from the repression that has taken place during demonstrations over the last few months...

World Refugee Day

20 June 2017

TurkeY

16 JUNE 2017

The Socialist International vigorously condemns the sentencing and arrest of Enis Berberoğlu, a member of parliament of the CHP, an SI member party, for allegedly revealing information about the secret supply of arms to Syria by Turkey’s intelligence agency MIT. Our International deeply deplores this latest act by the Erdoğan regime to silence the opposition and reaffirms its full support and solidarity with its members in Turkey. The Socialist International stands shoulder to shoulder with CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as he, along with members of the opposition, undertakes a protest march from Ankara to Istanbul demanding Justice...

DR Congo

15 MAY 2017

Responding to an invitation by the leadership of the UDPS of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the SI Secretary General Luis Ayala arrived to Kinshasa on Friday 12 May to convey the Socialist International’s solidarity with the party and family of their deceased leader Etienne Tshisekedi, and to express the support of the organisation for their efforts and those of other political forces engaged in moving forward a transition to democracy in the country. However, agents of the regime were waiting for him at the airport upon arrival to ensure that he would not enter the country and, despite his protests, withheld his passport and forced him back to the aircraft upon which he had arrived. This action by the government of Kabila, which the Socialist International condemns, reflects once more the reality under which the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the political opposition live today...

belarus

29 APRIL 2017

The Socialist International vigorously protests against the latest abduction by government security agents and detention of Mikalai Statkevich, leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party NH, an SI member party, ahead of the forthcoming May Day celebrations planned to take place in Minsk. Since his sudden disappearance yesterday, it has been reported that he has been secretly charged, and will be held for five days. Recalling his violent abduction last month, and equally that of other members of the BSDP-NH, it is clear that these repeated acts of intimidation and violence by the regime will not deter the democratic opposition, or indeed any of the citizens of Belarus, from demanding their full rights and freedoms...

PARAGUAY

02 APRIL 2017

The violent demonstrations that have occurred in recent days in Paraguay have generated serious concern in the region and the international community, and exposed a widely known truth, that democracy can only be protected and advanced when it is in full view of the people, in front of the nation and with full respect for its institutions. The discussion and processing of the constitutional amendments aimed at changing the rule of non re-election of the Head of State, which was established in 1992 after the end of a long period of authoritarianism under General Stroessner, has, at the very least, and on a matter that is so close to the soul and historical memory of the citizens of that country, lacked the necessary transparency...

VeneZUELA

30 MARCH 2017

The decision that has just been adopted by the Supreme Court (TSJ) of Venezuela, declaring the National Assembly - nothing less than the legislative branch of power in the country - in contempt, and announcing that the Supreme Court is to simultaneously assume the functions of this institution of government, goes beyond the mere denial of the Assembly, it is a critical blow to the last vestiges of democracy in that Latin American nation. Democracy exists when there is a clear division of the powers of the State, and for some considerable time, the citizens of Venezuela have been observing how this has been violated, while their freedoms and rights were being restricted and the consequences of a grave political, social…

In Solidarity

venezUela

14 JANUARY 2017

As 2017 begins, it is more evident than ever that the political, social and economic situation in Venezuela is becoming increasingly serious and urgent for millions of its inhabitants, and the international community cannot remain indifferent or absent in face of the critical circumstances of a nation which, thanks to the efforts of a whole generation some decades ago, was able to rise up and follow the path to democracy. Along with with the highest international records for inflation in existence today in a national economy and the largest number of deaths caused by homicides and criminal acts, this situation multiplies the human suffering...

D.R. Congo

5 JANUARY 2017

The new political agreement signed in Kinshasa by opposition leaders and the party of President Kabila at the end of 2016 is greatly welcomed by the Socialist International as a sign of hope and as a potential first step towards bringing reconciliation and peace to a country that has, for so long, been subject to internal divisions, political instability and conflict. Following the expiry of President Kabila’s term of office on 19 December 2016 and the absence of new elections, Congo saw a resumption of civil unrest and renewed violence on the streets. On 19 and 20 December alone, more than forty people were killed, shot by security forces....

venezuela

02 JANUARY 2017

The release from prison of Manuel Rosales, leader of Un Nuevo Tiempo, UNT, of Venezuela, an SI member party, has been warmly welcomed by the Socialist International. He was unjustly imprisoned following his arrest in October 2015, returning to the country after six years in exile. While celebrating his release, we vigorously protest against the conditions imposed on his freedom, including the need for him to regularly report to authorities, and forbidding him from leaving the country. The International salutes his courage and strength, and expresses its support and solidarity to his family, friends, and comrades...

IRAN

SI condemns terrorist attack against member party KDP-Iran

21 DECEMBER 2016

The Socialist International firmly condemns the terrorist attack against the party headquarters in Arbil of the SI member Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP-Iran, which took place on 20 December. The attack was carried out as party members were leaving a memorial ceremony honouring former party leader Abdulrahman Ghassemlou, who was assassinated in Vienna in 1989.
Four party members, a member of the youth organisation and a security guard died in the attack and several others were seriously injured.
Our International extends its deepest condolences to the families and comrades of those killed. The SI reiterates its strong solidarity with all members of the KDP-Iran at this difficult time.

COLOMBIA

Standing with Colombia for peace

Political Prisoners

POLITICAL PRISONERS

turkey

4 NOVEMBER 2016

The Socialist International firmly deplores the arrest this morning of Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, Co-Chairs of the People’s Democratic Party (Halkların Demokratik Partisi), HDP, an SI member party, and the detention of 11 other HDP parliamentarians, in a further blow to Turkish democracy following earlier crackdowns and restrictions on the freedoms and rights of the citizens of that country. The HDP is the third largest political party in Turkey and won seats in parliament in June 2015 despite the existing 10% threshold, and again in the elections re-called in November 2015. In May this year, the immunity that MPs usually hold from prosecution was removed from HDP members. Party members have subsequently protested against repeated raids of their homes and offices...

veneZuela

21 OCTOBER 2016

The Socialist International deplores the decision adopted yesterday, Thursday 20 October, by the Electoral National Council (CNE) of Venezuela to postpone until a new judicial order the process of collection of 20% of signatures required to activate a recall referendum on the government of Nicolás Maduro scheduled for 26, 27 and 28 of this month. In its public declaration, the CNE bases its decision on compliance with the Constitution and observance of precautionary measures adopted by the criminal courts of Valencia, San Fernando Apure, Aragua and Bolivar, after accepting complaints for alleged electoral crimes against the political forces which are members of the Mesa de Unidad Democrática (MUD), an alliance which includes member parties of the SI, in the process to activate the recall referendum...

SYRIA

14 OCTOBER 2016

As the world continues to witness the tragedy taking place in Syria, the Socialist International calls for renewed concerted efforts by the international community to stop the carnage and human suffering which has intensified following the breakdown last month of the brief ceasefire that lasted less than a week. The Syrian people are hostages to a conflict that transcends their country and whose solution today lies primarily outside their borders. According to United Nations figures, some 13.5 million Syrians are today requiring humanitarian assistance…

Colombia

26 SEPTEMBER 2016

The Socialist International greets the historic signing today in Cartagena of the Peace Accord between the government of Colombia and the FARC, successfully concluding a process which began more than four years ago in Havana. Our International is among those accompanying this significant event, maintaining its commitment and support for peace in Colombia today and for the post-conflict period of disarmament and reconciliation.

BElarus

13 SEPTEMBER 2016

Despite the election of opposition parliamentarians for the first time in twenty years, legislative elections in Belarus have not delivered true democracy to the people of that country. The Socialist International reiterates its firm support and solidarity to all those in Belarus engaged in the fundamental struggle for democracy and human rights. On 11 September 2016, Belarusian citizens went to the polls for parliamentary elections, the results of which are now known. The new parliament contains two opposition MPs, the first elected since 1996, but remains overwhelmingly dominated by those who support President Alexander Lukashenko....

GamBia

22 JULY 2016

The Socialist International firmly denounces and condemns the sentencing of Ousainou Darboe, leader of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) of Gambia, an SI member party, along with 18 other party members and sympathisers, to 3 years imprisonment, having been arbitrarily detained since 16 April 2016 following a peaceful demonstration. The SI utterly deplores this travesty of justice and calls for their immediate release. We equally call on the international community to join forces in denouncing the conduct of the dictatorial regime of Yahya Jammeh and calling for an end to the continuing violation of human rights in that country...

♦ 23 August 2016

With great sorrow the SI has learned of the death while in jail of Ebrima Solo Kurumah, UDP party member, the second such case in five months. The SI calls for an urgent full investigation into the circumstances of this tragic death. The Socialist International remains extremely concerned about the lives of all those protestors incarcerated as we have now seen two political prisoners of this group who have lost their lives in the last few months.

Previous Posts

Presidium

21 September 2017

The Presidium of the Socialist International gathered at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on 21 September 2017 for its annual meeting in conjunction with the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly. The main items on the agenda of this meeting were the pursuit and maintenance of international peace and security and the promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, issues which are central to the work of the SI and its members...

Council

11-12 July 2017

Latifa Perry

The SI Council held its first meeting since the XXV Congress on 11-12 July 2017, returning to the United Nations headquarters for two days of discussions on strengthening multilateralism, reaffirming social democratic values and defending democracy...

Turkey

28 June 2017

The Socialist International Secretary General, Luis Ayala, has joined CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu on his march from Ankara to Istanbul demanding justice for all the Turkish citizens who are suffering the consequences of the crackdown on rights and freedoms in the country. With them is SI Vice-President Umut Oran, and other members of the opposition. The march, which began in Ankara on 15 June, is due to end in Istanbul on 9 July...

IPU

02 April 2017

On the occasion of the 136th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 1 to 5 April 2017, the Socialist International held a meeting of parliamentarians attending the Assembly from our global political family. Chaired by the SI Secretary General, the meeting on 2 April included representatives from all continents, who met to exchange views on the key issues being addressed by this Assembly of the IPU and to share information on developments and issues of concern affecting their countries.

XXV SI Congress

02-04 March 2017

Under the heading “For a world in peace, with equality and solidarity”, the Socialist International held its XXV Congress in Colombia, lending its global voice in support of the momentous peace process underway in that country following the recent peace accord reached between the government and the rebel group FARC. The Congress took place in the historic city of Cartagena from 2 to 4 March 2017, hosted by the SI member party, the Colombian Liberal Party (PLC), and was inaugurated with the participation of His Excellency Juan Manuel Santos, President of the Republic of Colombia...

SI Committee for the CIS, Caucasus and Black Sea

06 February 2017

A working meeting of members of the SI Committee for the CIS, Caucasus and Black Sea was held in Chisinau, Moldova, on 6 February 2017, hosted by the Democratic Party of Moldova, DPM. The meeting was held to focus on the political context in the region in advance of the XXV SI Congress, and to hear the contributions from SI member parties to the resolutions to be adopted at the Congress. It also offered the opportunity for updates on the situation in countries in the region...

Latin America and the Caribbean

30 January 2017

A working meeting of members of the SI Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean was held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 30 January 2017. The discussions focused on the political context in the region at the time of the XXV SI Congress, issues relating to the region to be addressed by the Congress, contributions from parties in the region to the preparation of the general resolutions to be adopted by the Congress, a review of the elections to be held at the Congress in relation to candidates from the region and brief reports on national situations.

The Gambia

27 January 2017

H.E. President Adama Barrow returned to The Gambia on Thursday 26 January to be greeted by multitudes of its citizens celebrating his homecoming, which heralded a new chapter in the political life of the nation. On the day of his arrival, President Barrow held a fraternal meeting with the United Democratic Party, UDP, leader Ousainou Darboe, and the Secretary General of the Socialist International, Luis Ayala, at his home in the capital, Banjul...

The Gambia

19 January 2017

The Socialist International congratulates the new President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, of the SI member party the United Democratic Party (UDP) and candidate of an alliance of opposition parties, who was sworn in today at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, as outgoing President Yahya Jammeh, who has been in power for 22 years following a military coup in 1994, refuses to step down.

Mediterranean

16-17 December 2016

The Socialist International Mediterranean Committee held a meeting in Malaga on 16-17 December 2016, hosted by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), focussing its discussions on “The current challenges to ensuring democracy, freedoms, rights, and peace in the Mediterranean” and “Strategies for reaffirming our vision and values in the Mediterranean region”...

Gambia

05 December 2016

Ousainou Darboe, imprisoned UDP leader, is released

The Socialist International welcomes the release today of Ousainou Darboe, imprisoned leader of the SI member party, the United Democratic Party, UDP, arrested in April 2016 and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, along with 18 party members and sympathisers, who were jailed following a peaceful protest in Gambia’s capital...

IPU

24 October 2016

The Socialist International meeting at the 135th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland, was held on Monday 24 October 2016, with the participation of parliamentarians from SI member parties attending the IPU Assembly. In the discussions, participants exchanged views on the different emergency items on the agenda of the IPU that had been presented for adoption by the Assembly, and shared information on issues of national and international concern.

Africa

07-08 October 2016

H.E. President Mahama with participants at the meeting of the SI Africa Committee in Accra, Ghana

Under the main theme of: “Advancing our social democratic vision in Africa”, the Socialist International held a meeting of its Africa Committee in Accra on 7-8 October 2016, hosted by the National Democratic Congress, NDC, the SI member in Ghana. Bringing together member parties from all parts of the continent, the meeting took place at the Kofi Anan International Peace-keeping Centre in Accra, a symbolism that was not lost on participants, particularly at a moment when António Guterres, a former President of the Socialist International, was announced as nominated by the UN Security Council for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations...

United Nations

06 October 2016

The Socialist International offers its warm congratulations to António Guterres, who was confirmed today by acclamation as the formal choice of the UN Security Council as its nominee to become the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations. The consensus reached is a strong symbol of unity and cooperation. The UN General Assembly is now expected to adopt a resolution confirming his appointment...

Presidium

21 September 2016

Latifa Perry

The annual meeting of the SI Presidium in conjunction with the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly took place on 21 September in New York, the eighth such occasion since 2008. The agenda of the meeting focused on the role of the social democratic movement in promoting collective action to confront prevailing challenges to security, democracy and sustainability in different parts of the world and the outcome of the UNGA high-level debate on the crisis of refugees and migrants...

Council

01-02 July 2016

Latifa Perry

The Council of the Socialist International convened at the United Nations in Geneva on 1-2 July 2016. Its discussions focused on three main themes: 'Strengthening the political and humanitarian response to current international crises’, ‘Defending and securing democracy: supporting the struggle for rights and freedoms where they are under threat’, and ‘The need for an economy that works for all - defeating inequality in the world economy’...

Commission on Inequality

03-04 June 2016

Latifa Perry

The Socialist International Commission on Inequality held its first meeting on 3-4 June in Brussels, hosted by the Socialist Party of Belgium, PS. The Commission had been established by the SI to put forward new ideas, innovative concepts and policies to defeat inequality in the world economy. With a view to drawing on the accumulated experience at the helm of government on matters related to the issues in the remit of the Commission...

Dominican Republic

13-16 May 2016

A delegation of the Socialist International was in the Dominican Republic from 13 to 16 May to observe the Presidential, Parliamentary and local elections held in that country on Sunday 15 May. The alliance, including the PLD and the SI member party, the PRD, has won a majority in these elections and the incumbent President, Danilo Medina, has been re-elected in the first round of voting with close to 62% of the vote...

Latin America and the Caribbean

01-02 April 2016

Nicolás Monegro

The Socialist International Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean held a meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on 1-2 April 2016. The agenda centered on two main themes: “Building alliances and coalitions to advance our objectives of sustainable development, fair progress and opportunities for all” and “Improving the electoral systems and processes in the region”...

IPU

20 March 2016

Latifa Perry

The Socialist International held its meeting of parliamentarians from member parties on the occasion of the 134th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union which took place in Lusaka, Zambia, from the 19th to the 23rd of March 2016. Participants attending from all continents, also included a number of Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliament and Leaders of Parliamentary Groups from our political family. The meeting held discussions on issues of particular concern to members in regard to current international developments...

CLIMATE CHANGE

09 December 2015

SI Press Conference at COP21 in Paris

The SI President and Secretary General held a press conference at the COP21 in Paris. They presented the positions adopted by the organisation at its recent Council meeting held in Angola in regards to the COP21 and underlined the political will of the member parties of the Socialist International worldwide for achieving ambitious targets at the Conference to tackle climate change...

Turkey

16-17 January 2016

On the occasion of the 35th Congress of the Republican People's Party, CHP, of Turkey, held in Ankara on 16 -17 January 2016, the Socialist International Secretary General attended at the invitation of the party leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, with whom he held talks on political developments in Turkey and on the main issues on the party’s agenda. The SI SG conveyed the full support of the International for their work for freedoms, rights and democracy in Turkey...

Council

27-28 November 2015

Latifa Perry

The Socialist International held its second Council meeting of 2015 on 27-28 November in Luanda, hosted by MPLA, its member party in Angola. Delegates converged in Angola's capital representing SI member parties and organisations from across Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. The one-and-a-half-day meeting addressed the main themes...

Resolutions and Decisions of the XXIV Congress

International Women's Day 2016

EURope

Uganda

22 FEBRUARY 2016

In recent years the people of Africa have continued advancing and moving forward democratic governance in an important number of countries of the region. Today, more and more people in that continent enjoy freedoms and rights, a precondition for progress, development and peace. Members of the Socialist International in a good number of countries in Africa have been protagonists and actors of an era of change that has been bringing new opportunities and a new face to the political life of the continent. Nevertheless, authoritarianism, oppression and other evils of the past still linger in the political life of some of the countries in the region...

PAKiSTAN

28 March 2016

The Socialist International expresses its solidarity with the people of Pakistan as they come to terms with the horrendous terrorist attack carried out yesterday near Lahore. Over 70 people lost their lives as they enjoyed a Sunday afternoon in the park, including numerous women and children, and over 300 were injured. We strongly denounce this violent act, as we have other such terrorist attacks in Pakistan and elsewhere. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased and our sympathy is with all those injured and suffering as a result...

venEZUELA

12 April 2016

The Socialist International denounces the grave disregard of the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people and the usurpation of powers by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of the country, which yesterday declared as unconstitutional the Amnesty and National Reconciliation Law that had been approved by a majority in the National Assembly on 29 March this year. The resounding electoral victory in the elections to the National Assembly at the beginning of December 2015 was based on a clear proposal...

CIS, Caucasus and Black Sea

04 APRIL 2016

The Socialist International has followed with great concern the hostilities and attacks that have taken place in the last 48 hours between Armenians and Azerbaijanis with a regrettable loss of numerous lives. Our International calls for an immediate ceasefire and for an end to these hostilities, and at the same time reiterates the urgent need for a resumption of dialogue within the framework of the Minsk Group, a body accepted by both Armenia and Azerbaijan and recognised by the multilateral organisations, to resolve through negotiation and in accordance with the principles of international law...

FRance

15 JULY 2015

The Socialist International vigorously condemns the despicable terrorist attack carried out last night during the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice that took the lives of at least 84 men, women and children, and left scores seriously injured. This horrific attack continues the path of successive acts of terrorism against innocent people in France and in other countries across the world, as extremists seek to generate a climate of fear and undermine democracy and the rights and freedoms people everywhere have fought to achieve.....

TURKEY

16 JULY 2016

The Socialist International condemns the attempt by military forces in Turkey last night and in the early hours of this morning, to bring down the legitimately elected government of the country. Our organisation wholeheartedly shares and fully supports the clear and unequivocal statements made by the leaders of the CHP and the HDP, members of our global political family, as the coup attempt unfolds. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the CHP, said that the country had suffered previous coups and these developments should never be repeated in Turkey, adding that his party fully depends on the free will of the people, indispensable to Turkey’s parliamentary democracy…